Testing your turkey knowledgeYesterday marked the opening day of Meleagris gallopavo season in our state, otherwise known as turkey season. Young hunters got a crack at them last weekend and the overall harvest was slightly above prior year. These amazing creatures can be found hanging on a limb in the early hours before fly down, sounding off gobbles that can be heard up to a mile away. How much do you know about the wild turkey? Take a minute to test your turkey knowled...

Youth hunt always adventurousWith the inception of a statewide youth hunt years ago, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission started a new tradition within the states deer hunters that is enjoyed by both the young and old alike, and even more so when the big kids of 65 years and older were added to one of the biggest hunting weekends in the state. Rules have been changed over the past few years with regards to the youth hunt, but the gist of the hunt is to get young people ...

Turkey population decline began with 1980 droughtThis article is the fifth in series that examines the wild turkey decline in Arkansas and the possible factors that may have caused or contributed to it. Bob McAnally is the former wildlife management division district biologist and regional supervisor for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) for 36 years, operating out of Russellville. He also served as the statewide wild turkey program leader from 1974-84 and served on the Arkansas C...

Lake Nimrod looking for a great spring seasonFor several years in a row now Lake Nimrod in Yell County has become a very popular body of water with good numbers of anglers from all over the region making increasing visits each and every year. For years the species of fish caring this fishery has been crappie, crappie, crappie and there is no doubt that Lake Nimrod is a tremendous crappie lake, but anglers throughout the region are finding out Nimrod is much more. From the first white bas...

Asmussen's Tapiture the favorite at Arkansas Derby HOT SPRINGS (AP) — Steve Asmussen isn't answering questions at the moment about allegations that he and a former top assistant mistreated horses under their care. The trainer, however, looks as relaxed as ever overseeing morning workouts at Oaklawn Park. Off-the-track concerns aside, Asmussen has reason to feel good about today's Arkansas Derby, where he'll run Tapiture in the $1 million Kentucky Derby prep. The colt, who won the Southwest Sta...

Tapiture favorite in Saturday's Arkansas Derby HOT SPRINGS (AP) — Tapiture has been designated the early favorite in the $1 million Arkansas Derby and will break from the third post position. The Southwest Stakes winner was named a 9-5 favorite for Saturday's race at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs. Bayern is 2-1 and Strong Mandate had odds of 9-2 Wednesday. Danza will break from the rail Saturday. Joel Rosario will be aboard Tapiture in the Kentucky Derby prep race. In order from the rail out...

Two rehabilitated eagles fly on Little Red RiverHEBER SPRINGS — After serious injury, surgery and months of rehabilitation, two adult bald eagles were released Saturday, March 29, near the Little Red River just downstream from Greers Ferry Dam. Their recovery and release was the result of work by Rodney Paul, who operates Raptor Rehab of Central Arkansas at El Paso (White County). Several dozen spectators were on hand for the release. The birds immediately took flight and headed in a genera...

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Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Bass tournaments starting to hit their strideYou always know that tournament season is off and running when the Get5Bass Summer Series schedule is released. Locally a good number of anglers plan their schedules around many of the Get5Bass events, and this year is no exception. This year’s Get5Bass Summer Series will not see many changes as the entry fee is still $50 per boat. Get5Bass memberships are also still $25 per angler and best of all the payout at their tournaments remains at 100...

Debates continue as turkey season nearsSeveral years ago, in order to help a struggling turkey population in Arkansas, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) took some steps to try and revive the strength of turkey hunting in Arkansas. The first step was to eliminate the fall turkey season altogether, a controversial but much needed move that was very unpopular with many of the state’s hunters. Fall turkey season was popular, but nothing like the thrill hunting in the spring,...

Turkey essentials every hunter needs to succeedWith turkey season just around the corner (opening April 19 in most parts of our state), it’s time to start rounding up your turkey hunting paraphernalia. It’s just a matter of days until the dogwoods and redbuds begin to blossom, a surefire sign that the king of spring is fired up and looking for a lady to court. Every turkey hunter, novice or expert, needs certain equipment if they’re going to be prepared this spring while chasing down a war...

Commission hears regulation proposalsLITTLE ROCK — Commissioners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission received a briefing today on the public response from hunting regulations the agency proposed. The AGFC provided an online survey this year for public input. More than 6,000 people responded to the survey. Dating back to 1998, just over 7,000 people attended the agency’s general hunting, turkey and waterfowl public meetings combined. AFGC Commissioner Fred Brown said the am...

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Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Former AGFC biologist puts focus on turkey habitatNote: This article is the fourth in a series examining wild turkey decline in Arkansas and turkey habitat changes. John Gallagher is a 1976 graduate of Arkansas Tech University with a BS in Fisheries/Wildlife Management. He began working for Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in 1977 and retired last year. He has worked in most areas of the state but spent most of his career based out of Russellville, working in the Arkansas River Valley on wil...

Spring fishing optionsWith the arrival of spring, area anglers and outdoors enthusiasts have many options when it comes to places to fish and species of fish in which they may pursue. Spring is prime fishing season for practically every kind of fish, and in the Natural State we are blessed with a wide variety of lakes and streams that are home to some of the best fishing in the country. Crappie fishing seems to be on everyone’s mind this time of year, but even more...

Jack Fleck, winner of 1955 US Open, dies at 92FORT SMITH (AP) — Jack Fleck, who produced one of golf's greatest upsets by beating Ben Hogan in a playoff to win the 1955 U.S. Open, died Friday. He was 92. He had been the oldest living U.S. Open champion. The Edwards Funeral Home said Fleck died after a brief illness. Jim Edwards, the general manager, said he saw Fleck hitting golf balls as recently as six weeks ago. Fleck returned to The Olympic Club two years ago when the U.S. Open celebr...

Forester says state forests, turkey habitat, have changedThis article is the third in a series examining wild turkey decline in Arkansas and turkey habitat changes. Joe Fox is the current Arkansas state forester and director of the Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC). He is a graduate of North Carolina State with a BS in Forestry/ AG Econ, and 20 years in the family lumber business, WS Fox and Sons/Arkansas Oak Flooring Company, a hardwood based company. For 11 years he was Director of Conservation F...

Spring break coming to ArkansasSpring break 2014 is less than a week away and finally the state of Arkansas is thawing from one of the harshest winters in many years, but as each spring arrives there comes a turning point and as schools all across the state begin their spring break next week, hopefully we can say spring has finally arrived. The natural state has one of the greatest state park systems in the country with many rivers, streams, lakes, & campgrounds that are en...

AGFC director Knoedl explains drop in turkey numbersThis is article No. 2 in a series of interviews that is examining turkey decline and habitat changes in Arkansas. Mike Knoedl started with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) in 1985 as wildlife officer in Perryville, Perry County, then Saline, Pulaski and Dallas counties. He was chief of law enforcement and now is the Director of the AGFC. He said turkey hunting is his passion and likes to bow hunt with his sons. The following is our...

Busy times just ahead for tournament anglersDespite the frigid temperatures, rain and a bit of ice, spring is just around the corner. Each year area anglers anxiously await its arrival and cannot wait to see warmer days and nights. Inevitably it always seems to sneak up on all of us with this year being no exception. Bass tournaments are taking place all across the natural state on multiple bodies of water. For many in the industry Get5Bass is a constant and complete source of tournamen...

New firearms: AR-15s, Duck Dynasty and pocket shotgunFirearms development these days comes fast and furious. Hunters and shooters in general are on the lookout for weapons that will improve their potential in the field and on the range. We’ll touch on three topics in this wide and complex issue, which is separate from the hot potato of gun control. The changes in the broad category of AR-15 rifles are hard to keep up with these days. These are the military firearms that began in .223 caliber. To...